Sport

Cricket column by former Gloucestershire chairman John Light

THERE have been lots of football friendlies taking place but the results that matter are in the games involving GCCC and, happily, Sky TV are showing the matches.
Last Tuesday was the T20 quarter-final at Hove when the county encountered a weapon of mass destruction known as Scott Styris. His slogged century took the game away from Gloucestershire. A
spirited reply made for good viewing but defeat was inevitable.
Not so in the Netherlands. In a vital CB40 match on Friday Gloucestershire kept their qualifying hopes alive by winning. This is the form of the game they play best.
Special praise for James Fuller. Severely mauled at Hove, he took six Dutch wickets in six overs. This meant the team headed to Old Trafford on Monday in good heart.
But it was always going to be tough. Lancashire are county champions and are on a one-day roll.
The desert-like wicket made it even harder. Our young team could have wilted. They did not, they stood firm. Housego, Dent and Cockbain as batsmen and Fuller and Payne with the ball showed us they
are true cricketers of the future.
Lancashire did not win until the last over of a compelling game. The challenge of the championship remains – with the attitude of Monday the team could really surprise us.
I was wrong! The Olympics opening ceremony was a joy.
It was a triumph from just after the start right to the end. The ‘Merrie England’ depicted at the beginning never existed, but after such scenes were over Danny Boyle never failed.
Seb Coe talked about sport, simply and briefly with wonderful words. I repeat two of them, joy and truth. How right he was.
Those who play any sport, anywhere and whatever level know what joy it can bring.
You will all have your own memories. I have two. Don Rogers rounding Bob Wilson with imperious ease and scoring Swindon’s third goal (Swindon 3, Arsenal 1 at Wembley in 1969) was one.
Mark Alleyne, who had just scored a brilliant century, receiving the Benson and Hedges Cup was another. (Glos v Yorkshire - Lords 1999), Mrs Light did not have to ask me why I was crying - she
knew.
And of course you do not always have to win. True effort, true competition has its own rewards. Knowing you have done your best is one of them.
Do you agree with John? Have your say at gazetteseries.co.uk